Dyeing machine



Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK DAVIS, OF HALIFAX, ENGLAND.

DYEING MACHINE.

Application filed September 19, 1927, Serial No.

This. invention relates more particularly to indigo dyeing machines for dyeing woollen and worsted piece goods, but it is also applicable to cotton dyeing or any other' similar machine dyeing where one or a number of textile pieces is or are passed in a continuous manner under and over rollers within a suitable tank or vat containing dye liquor provided with means for keeping the said liquor at its proper strength; and has for its object improved means whereby concenti-ated dye solution, or reagents (such as hydrosulplnte of soda, ammonia, caustic soda, Zinc powder, bisulphite of soda, or other desirable ingredient, or a combination thereof), or both, are separately or simultaneously supplied to means immersed in the vat liquor, adapted to draw the latter from one end of the vat or dye vessel and subsequently return the same to the liquor at the opposite end thereof, and during this circulation to thoroughly Vincorporate therewith the said solution or reagent before the rcvivifed liquor passes into the vat liquor as aforesaid, thereby synchronously replenishing the said liquor with the amount of solution or reagent required to be contained therein, in accordance wit-h the amount taken out or absorbed by the said piece or pieces during the process of dyeing.

In carrying out the present invention the concentrated dye solution is contained in a suitable tank or vessel preferably occupying an elevated position near the inlet end of the dyeing machine. A suitable rotary pump or the like is mounted upon one side thereof having an inlet pipe connected therewith descending a suitable distance into the dye liquor and then carried forward to near the delivery end of the machine. The vessel containing the concentrated dye solution is provided with an outlet pipe connecting the said vessel with the immersed suction portion or inlet pipe to the said pump, and the flow from the vessel to the said suction pipe is controlled by a tap or valve. The outlet pipe from the pump ascends a suitable distance and later descends into the dye liquor at one corner of the inlet end of the dye tank, to the floor thereof, from which it is carried across the said tank to the opposite corner. rlhe section of pipe traversing this end of the tank is provided with a series of perforations whereby the contents are preferably discharged therefrom in the form of a spray.

220,541, and in Great Britain February 19, i927.

vThe pump is suitably driven, either from a counter shaft by a belt driving on to a pulley on the pump spindle, or by an electric motor, and is adapted to draw the liquor in the delivery end of the tank where it is weakest, into the suction pipe and by way of the pipe connections, circulate the same to the perforated horizontal pipe or the likev aforesaid which discharges or returns the same to the vat liquor tank in the form of a spray. The circulation of the dye liquor from one part of the tank to another part, by the pump, causes the latter to simultaneously take in a regulated supply of concentrated dye solution from the vessel containing same, by means of the pipe connecting the latter with the suction pipe thereof, and during their circulation to the spray both the original or weakened liquor and the solution become thoroughly incorporated the former becoming revivified, sothat, upon being returned to the tank by means of the spray, the loss in solution caused by the continuous dyeing process is correspondingly restored to the liquor, the supply of concentrated solution to the pump being regulated and controlled in 'accordance with the amount taken out by the fabric during dyeing, and the desired strength or eliciency of the dye liquor is maintained indefinitely.

F or supplying and incorporating suitable reagents above mentioned either during or separate from the supply of a concentrated dye solution, a separate pipe is connected to the suction pipe preferably near the inlet thereof. This pipe is also positioned at the side of the dye tank and terminates in a funnel or fiared end adapted to receive the hydrosulphite of soda or the like in the desired quantity, which is caused by the pump to circulate towards the spray and become incorporated with the dye liquor by the pump before being discharged into the said tank.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which y Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an indigo dyeing machine, given by way of example, with the improvements applied.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the dye tank and the vessel containing concentrated dye solution, showing the improved method of and means for supplying dye solution or reagents to the dye liquor in the tank, and for incorporating the same therewith.

Referring to the drawings :-A is a dye tank or vat adapted to receive the dye liquor, B are guide rollers mounted therein under and over which the piece or pieces of cloth or frabric C pass in the process of being dyed, D are squeezing rollers. The piece C or a number thereof connected together to be dyed, pass from the pile E through the dye liquor and are subsequently dealt with by a cuttling device F which cuttles them upon a transporter G. These elements are common to dyeing machines and form no part of the present invention.

I-I is a rotary pump or the like element driven by a pulley J, shaft K and belt L, from any suitable counter-shaft (not shown), M is a suction pipe connected to pump H. N is a supply vessel containing concentrated dye solution connected by pipe P to the pipe M and controlledby a tap or valve It. S is the outlet or discharge pipe from said pump connected by pipe T with a spray pipe U running across the inlet end of the tank A at the bottom thereof, provided with a series of perforations V or the like therein for discharging or returning the contents of the pipe T back to the liquor in said tank A, preferably `in the form of a horizontal spray (as is clearly shown at Fig. 2. W is a further pipe connected to pipe lI having a flared end or funnel X adapted, when required, to receive a suitable quantity of hydrosulphite of soda or other suitable ingredients forming an extra feed for mixing with the liquor drawn into the pipe M and circulated by the pump H containing a regulated amount of concentrated dye solution, in a manner whereby the whole becomes thoroughly incorporated before being discharged by the spray pipe U.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination, an apparatus of the class described comprising a tank having a dyeing liquid therein, means for conducting the article to be treated through said liquid, a suction pump associated'with said tank, a suction pipe having a substantially horizontal portion immersed in said liquid and directly communicating at one end with' the interior of the tank and having its opposite extremity communicating with said suction pump, a perforated member horizontally' disposed adjacent the bottom of said tank and means conducting the liquid from said pump to said horizontal member.

2. In combination, an apparatus of the class described comprising a tank having a dyeing liquid therein, means for conducting the article to be treated through said liquid, a suction pump associated with said tank, a suction pipe having a substantially horizontal portion immersed in said liquid and directly communicating at one end with the interior of the tank and having its opposite extremity communicating with said `suction pump, a perforated member' hor izontally disposed adjacent the bottom of said tank and a vessel containing a concentrated dye solution communicating with said suction pipe whereby there is admitted to the suction pipe a continuous flow of said solution for maintaining the liquid therein' at the desired strength.

3. In combination, an apparatus of the class described comprising a tank having a dyeing liquid therein, means for conducting the article to be treated through said liquid, a suction pump associated with said tank, a suction pipe having a substantially horizontal portion immersed in said liquid and directly communicating at one end with the interior of the tank and having its opposite extremity communicating with said suction pump, a perforated member horizontally disposed adjacent the bottom of said tank, means conducting the liquid from said pump to said horizontal member, a vesselcomprising aconcentrated dye solution, a conduit communicating said vessel with said suction pipe, means for controlling the supply of the solution to said pipe, and means for delivering reagents to the horizontal portion of said suction pipe whereby there is admitted to the suction pipe a continuous flow of the dye solution and the reagents for maintaining the liquid therein at the desired strength.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK DAVIS. 

